City of Detroit's Riverfront Vision Becoming More Clear

The City of Detroit took another major step in the redevelopment of the Detroit Riverfront yesterday when it purchased land from Cemex - the last of the old cement companies that once operated on the riverfront.

According to this article in today's online edition of the Detroit Free Press, the city paid $23 million for the site, which will later be turned into a park.

Detroit's newest land acquisition is another addition to the multimillion-dollar redevelopment of the city's riverfront, which includes plans for a $500 million RiverWalk between the Ambassador and MacArthur bridges.

Twenty-six acres of prime Detroit riverfront to be redeveloped

Detroit-area developers will soon be scrambling to get their hands on a newly-issued parcel of riverfront property located on Detroit's west side.

The site, which is currently owned by Detroit Newspapers, has announced that it will close its printing plant - the area's only tenant - and plans to put the 1.5 miles up for sale shortly after that.

The current landowner, whose companies include both of Detroit's major daily newspapers, has hired a Southfield-based real estate firm to act as the broker in the sale.

According to this April 5 article in the Detroit Free Press, city leaders are pushing to have the area transformed from its current industrial state into a modern one which will include a mixture of new housing, parks, and retail establishments.

The 2100-acre area is prime real estate in downtown Detroit and will become part of the urban area's new RiverWalk, a stretch of land running along Detroit's shoreline from Belle Isle's MacArthur Bridge to the Ambassador Bridge, the International byway between Detroit and Windsor.

The RiverWalk is set to be turned into a walkable path designed to draw Detroiters to the city's largest asset, its river, as well as to provide a place for relaxation and enjoyment. Phase One of the project, which is currently underway, targets the eastern end of the riverfront, between the MacArthur Bride and Joe Louis Arena. Phase Two of the RiverWalk encompasses the area between Joe Louis and the Ambassador Bridge.

Visit the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy's website for further information and updates on the RiverWalk.

The Detroit Yacht Club

The Detroit Yacht Club from across the Detroit River

Did you know that one of the largest yacht clubs in North America lies right here in Detroit? It's true. The Detroit Yacht Club, located on a small man-made island adjacent to Belle Isle, has a clubhouse that encompasses 100,000 square feet.

Designed by George Mason - the architect of Detroit's beautiful Masonic Temple - the DYC's Mediterranean design makes it both an inviting and intriguing place.


Two-thirds of DYC members are not boaters

Although the name of the club indicates an association to boating, the Detroit Yacht Club is by no means a boating-only organization. In fact, two-thirds of its members are non-boaters. What does the club have to offer to non-boating members? Plenty. Below is an abbreviated list of some of the DYC's activities:

-Indoor and outdoor pools

-Year-round hot tub

-Fitness area

-Racquetball, squash courts, and tennis courts

-Golf and bowling leagues

-Cooking, swimming, dancing, tennis, and computer classes

-Ampitheater, picnic areas, and children's playscape

-Live weekend music

-Business and professional networking group

-Easter and Mother's Day brunches

-Over 40 different voluntary social clubs, including ladies bridge, water basketball, skiing, and gardening

-Year-round competitive swimming for children and young adults


The current home of the club is actually its fourth residence

Interested in becoming a member of this exclusive social club? The DYC has two upcoming prospective member receptions, the first on April 10 from 2-5 pm and the second on April 21 from 7-9 pm - where potential club-joiners can check out the DYC's interior, meet some of its members, and learn more about its history and current events. Call 313.824.1200 for more information.

Play Ball!

Tigers Opening Day is Monday, April 4

Get your peanuts, baseball gloves, and favorite jerseys out - its time once again for Tigers Opening Day!

Tomorrow marks the fifth year of Opening Day at Comerica Park stadium in Detroit, and the 104th Opening Day game for the Detroit Tigers baseball team.

Tomorrow's game pits our hometown cats against the Kansas City Royals. The stadium opens at 10:30 am, and opening day festivities start at 12:35pm.

Detroit's own Pastor Marvin Winans - six-time Grammy winner and one of the musically-talented members of the Winans family - will sing the National Anthem.

Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick will toss the ceremonial first pitch towards the ceremonial catcher, Robert Ficano. Ficano is Wayne County's Executive and has been the ceremonial Opening Day catcher for the last two years. Kilpatrick has thrown the first pitch the previous three years.

The weather forecast for Opening Day looks great (for Detroit, at least) - 62 degrees and sunny.

For the complete 2005 Tigers schedule, visit this link. If you are looking for stats, rosters, or other Tigers information, visit TigersCentral.com or Detroit Tigers Weblog.

GO TIGERS!

April Theatrical Events in Detroit

If you like theater or live shows, April in Detroit is sure to please

Been itching to get out and see a show? Detroit has you covered. Check out a few of the events in store this month:

April 2 - 3: Cirque Dreams, Fisher Theatre

April 2 - 23: The Story, Charles H. Wright Museum in Detroit

April 2 - 30*: Menopause the Musical, Gem Theatre

April 2 - 10: Godspell, Marygrover College Theater

April 3: Medea Goes to Jail, Fox Theatre

April 8: Two Plays: Twilight and the Trip, Broadway Theatre

April 9: John Hancock's Champions On Ice, Joe Louis Arena

April 12 - 17: Disney's Beauty and the Beast, Fox Theatre

April 22 - 30*: Evita, Wayne State University's Bonstelle Theatre

April 26 - 30*: Hairspray, Detroit's Masonic Temple

*=event goes into May

Make sure to check showtimes, as not all shows play every day.